WASHINGTON—Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman issued the following statement Thursday on the resignation of the Director of National Intelligence, Admiral Dennis Blair:

“I am sorry to see Admiral Blair leave the position of Director of National Intelligence. In all my work with him, Admiral Blair has been honest, honorable, and focused on improving and coordinating the American intelligence community to better protect our national security. I look forward to talking with the Admiral to understand why he is leaving his office now, and whether he thinks the DNI needs more statutory authority than it currently has.”